Criticized for 'silly choice', 9X Bac Giang still graduated as valedictorian at nearly 30 years old

Trinh Hai Son, born in 1996, from Bac Giang, is a new bachelor of Physics from the University of Natural Sciences (Vietnam National University, Hanoi). Son has just become the valedictorian of the entire course with a GPA of 3.92/4.0.

Right after finishing his thesis defense, Son received an offer from his teachers to stay on as a teaching assistant, and then become a lecturer to create resources for the school. This is also true to the male student's wish to become a lecturer to continue spreading the passion for Physics.

"If you are passionate, it is never too late"

Hai Son is a former student majoring in Mathematics at Bac Giang High School for the Gifted. However, the male student has a special passion for Physics.

For Son, Physics is a broad field with many specialties. Hai Son enjoys exploring the most fundamental laws of the world of matter, energy or time.

“In grade 10, I learned about Newton’s laws. I was impressed with the theoretical system - although there were only 3 basic laws, it described the natural world very completely, tightly, and clearly. After that, I continued to learn about electromagnetism in grade 11, harmonic oscillation in grade 12... and realized that, from that understanding, we can build wonderful practical applications,” Son said enthusiastically about the magical beauty of this subject.

Loving Physics, but when he was about to enter university, Son decided to enroll in Information Technology at Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

At that time, Son himself did not have a clear direction. Therefore, Son chose Information Technology because he knew that this was a hot field of study, with high job opportunities after graduation. Moreover, this would also be a tool used in many fields, including Physics.

Trinh Hai Son is the valedictorian of the University of Natural Sciences.

However, when he entered school, even though he still achieved a GPA of Excellent, Son still felt that he was not very passionate.

“If I continue on this path, I may have to do a job I don’t love for the rest of my life. When I spend 1/3 of my time doing things I’m not passionate about, life will be very boring and dull.”

Not wanting to live his whole life in unhappiness, nor wasting time on inappropriate things, Son decided to change his path to pursue his passion in the field of Physics.

From a hot major to return to Basic Science, many people advised against it, saying that Son's intention was "too silly and reckless".

During that time, Son said, he had to fight a lot to be able to follow the path he wanted.

In 2019, a male student from Bac Giang decided to retake the entrance exam to the University of Natural Sciences and passed the international Physics program, studying entirely in English.

As the oldest in the class, Son was elected Secretary. Here, Son was also able to do what he loved, and was inspired to study and research by enthusiastic and dedicated teachers. For Son, this was a great environment for him to pursue his passion and develop his abilities, especially in the field of Theoretical Physics.

“Choosing a major, I think, is like choosing a lover. If you choose to go down the same path together, it has to be the right person for it to be long-lasting and strong. And if it is your passion, it is never too late,” Son concluded after 4 years of “choosing again”.

Conquer the heights with passion

No longer going to class out of “obligation”, Son said: “Now, every day in class is a happy day”. Being older than his classmates is not a barrier, but even an advantage because Son is familiar with the university learning method.

“The university environment requires a high level of self-study from students. Most teachers will provide basic knowledge, but to delve deeper and expand on a problem, students still need to research, explore and ask questions about things that are not clear.”

Most of the new problems that required investment were self-studied and researched by Son. He read many books on theoretical physics, including those by Wolfgang Nolting – classic and difficult.

This is partly because he always feels “uncomfortable and uncomfortable” when encountering a problem that he likes but does not understand. Therefore, Son can spend a lot of time reading to get to the bottom of the problem.

“Every time I discover new knowledge, I feel very happy and like my worldview has been expanded. When I deeply understand the problem, it also makes taking the test easier.”

Trinh Hai Son graduated as valedictorian from the University of Natural Sciences at the age of nearly 30.

Aiming to discover the beautiful and wonderful things in the world of natural sciences, while Physics is a broad field, there are still gaps that need to be filled and corrected in the theoretical system, Son believes that he still needs to continue to improve because what he has been equipped with at university level is not enough.

Therefore, 9X plans to continue studying at a higher level and is still in the process of looking for a foreign scholarship. Son also hopes to be able to participate in a position of teaching and researching Physics at a domestic university.

Having met Son in an Open Lab session of the Physics Department 4 years ago, Dr. Hoang Chi Hieu, Deputy Head of the Physics Department, was impressed by the final year student of Hanoi University of Science and Technology who wanted to pursue a career in Physics.

“I advised you to think carefully. However, after hearing you talk to Professor Phan Manh Huong of the University of South Florida about dark matter, I was surprised because if you were not a student majoring in Physics, you certainly would not have known such profound knowledge. Only then did I believe how determined you were.”

After being admitted to the faculty, Dr. Hoang Chi Hieu saw more clearly Son's passion for Physics. Dr. Hieu said that any teacher who taught Son considered him a "rare" student, passionate and always deeply learning about the content taught by his teachers.

Son also won the Nguyen Hoang Phuong scholarship - an award for the best student in the faculty.

“Most candidates often choose a major based on their exam scores or feelings because it is a “hot” major. But Hai Son is special in that he dared to switch from the “hot” major of the University of Technology, Information Technology, to a basic science major. However, he always knew what he wanted and what he liked. This is something that not every student dares to do and can do,” said Dr. Hoang Chi Hieu.

(Source: Vietnamnet)

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Source: https://vtc.vn/bi-che-lua-chon-ngo-ngan-9x-bac-giang-van-tot-nghiep-thu-khoa-khi-gan-30-tuoi-ar801827.html